This Saturday, the House of Xtravaganza will host their first ball in over five years. I live for balls, and I’ve always lived for the Xtravaganzas; this ball will consist of 26 different competitions. Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded. Contestants are spending hundreds of hours preparing, as this is a very big thing. Some of the categories are Realness, Natural Beauty, Butch Queen-Vogue Fem, Battle Kat, Cha Cha Ruffle Bitch, and Butch Trans and His Bitch: A Night on the Town. The competition is fierce, but the love pervades it all. I am honored to be a judge; when I was asked by grandfather Hector Xtravaganza, I got goose bumps. For me it was one of the greatest honors I have received in this business. Other judges are old friends designer Malcolm Harris and Patricia Fields. There are some others who are famous and all that, but I can't mention them right now. If you have never been to a ball, I recommend that you get out and catch this one. The Moda La Envida Xtravaganza Ball is this Saturday, November 14, at Irving Plaza from 8pm. For more info, email {encode="hectorxtravaganza@aol.com" title="hectorxtravaganza@aol.com"}. The following is an interview I got with an Xtravaganza contingent a couple months back.

The houses started off as gay -- black and Hispanic gangs in Harlem. They were formed to protect each other, as being gay meant being an outcast for many. Davari Xtravaganza: It was more black. Carmen Xtravaganza: Yes.

As early as 1900. Is that correct, as far as you know? Carmen: Really, 1960s.

Well, there’s evidence that it goes back further. But let's talk about the modern era of the houses. Carmen: I wasn’t around in the 60’s ... we came out in ’81. Hector Xtravaganza: ‘81.

How did the Xtravaganzas form? Carmen: Paradise Garage. Hector: Um, no. Even before Paradise Garage ... we started out in Industries. We were like, just kids. A lot of us was homeless.

So it all started out in the streets. And, when we’re talking the streets, we’re talking about the Piers, on Christopher Street, the end of the Piers. Carmen: Peter Rabbits ... Hector: Hustling, prostitution ... a lot of homelessness. And it was just a lot of homeless kids. We all just gathered up, and we started protecting one another. But it’s before even Xtravaganza came out. So all this happened way before. Before Xtravaganza, we were going to call it “Magnifique.” Because there was a song out, it was a punk rock song called “Magnifique.” So we were like, “If we were ever to open up a House, it would be called Magnifique.” And then next thing you know, the founder -- which was Hector Xtravaganza also -- he came up with “Oh, well how ‘bout “Xtravaganza,” so we all fell in love with that.

There were other houses back then. Hector: Omni was around. Carmen: Ebony. Omni. La Beja.

Is La Beja still around? Hector: No, La Beja’s just like really ...

But there’s still some of the people around. I see the names. Hector: Yeah, some of the kids are still alive.

I have some of the La Beja as a Facebook friends What are some of the other houses? Carmen: Dupree ... Hector: St. Laurent ... Carmen: There’s two left, three maybe. Hector: La Wung. Carmen: La Wung ... they’re all gone ... Ninja. Let me not forget that one. Hector: No, but Ninja was really after the Xtravaganzas. Carmen: They went to the Elk’s Lodge ...

Let’s talk about the Elk’s Lodge. Hector: The first time I went into it, I was freakin’ out, because I was just like -- number one, it was in Harlem. I’m half black, half Puerto Rican, but I’m still light skinned. So, they look at me like I was a Latino. That’s like saying a white guy going into Harlem. But you know, we just went in there to check how things was going. Because when you’re young, you’re fearless. You know what I’m saying? So you didn’t give a shit, really.

So you decided to call yourselves the Xtravaganzas, with an “X” ... Carmen: No, it was with an “E” first Hector: Yeah, it was with an “E” at first.

Hector came up with it -- the original Father Xtravaganza. Hector: He came up with it because it’s very us -- extravagant kids, we’re in the streets trying to make it.

Does your House have a philosophy that’s different, let’s say, than the rest of the Houses? Hector: That is hard to decide because we don’t know what their philosophy is.

You don’t want to talk about them? Carmen: I can tell you my philosophy ... it’s to come done.

To come done. Carmen: To come done. That’s the way we did it back then. Hector: You can say “come done,” and that’s all like a shell. But also we had inner love for one another, you know? So we were “done” inside and out. Carmen: Exactly. So when we went to other functions, we were ready, we were prepared inside and out.

There was a time that a man named Willi Ninja, who was a dear friend of mine ... Hector: My son, my gay son.

He was a wonderful person, he has passed on. AIDS devastated not only your House, but a lot of the Houses. It took its toll, and a lot of our friends are missing. -- Willy Ninja was in a movie called Paris Is Burning about the “Voguing Houses,” which they became known as voguing became popular. Willi Ninja was catapulted to this cult stardom, and all of a sudden people all over country were aware of your world. Then along comes along Madonna and takes it international. Carmen: It becomes a phenomenon.

Jose, you were the choreographer for the video of Madonna's song "Vogue." Tell me what that experience was like. What was it like the first time you met Madonna? You believe in yourself, your family believes in you, your House believes in you. But now, you’re meeting a queen. Madonna is a queen; she’s a pharaoh. Are there butterflies? Jose: Oh my God ...

Were you confident? Jose: Yeah, there’s a shy confidence. It’s almost like a embarrassed-at-the-moment confidence. Because, it’s like you’re meeting Queen Bee. I was friends with Debi Mazar ...

Debi Mazar was an elevator girl at Danceteria And she’s now on Entourage. Jose: Yeah, Entourage, Goodfellas, a whole bunch of stuff. So I was friends with her from that club scene. And she was always Madonna’s friend and hair stylist, confidante, whatever. And Debi’s like, “I’m bringing Madonna to the club. You better be there, Saturday night, at the Sound Factory.” So I’m like, “Yeah, whatever. You’re gonna bring Madonna, whatever.” So it just so happens that she did. Sound Factory, at its peak ... it was New York City at its best. I was very fortunate to be there, to witness all of this. It was amazing. So I see this woman sitting on top of a speaker, with a long trench coat and all of her hair under a newspaper boy’s hat. Very stylish. And Debi’s like, “Someone would like to meet you. I told her all about you, and how you do this vogue thing, and she wants to meet you." And, I’m like “Noooooooo.” And she’s like, “Yeah, come.” So she brings me to Madonna, who’s sitting on the speaker. “This is Madonna. Madonna, meet Jose.” And I say, “Hi, nice to meet you.” And I shake her hand. And right off the bat, she says, “I heard you’re the shit. I heard you’re the one that can do this vogue thing. And I wanna see.”

And I was like, “Uh I’m not really dressed for it," cause remember, you’re voguing, you want to be able to move, because a lot of the things incorporate this movement on the floor. And I remember being really well dressed, because it’s what you did in New York City at that time -- you got dressed up and went to the club. So Madonna made someone in her entourage take their jeans off and give them to me, so that I can take off the slacks that I had on. So me and my friend Lewis ended up performing, auditioning for her right then and there, on the spot. It was like, “Okay now? On cue, on command? Whatever you say.” And we did it, and she invited us to the audition -- it was 5,000 dancers to beat, in New York City alone, you know? Only seven were going, only seven spots. I went Friday night to the club, and I went to the audition Saturday morning. And she was there, and we were late. Carmen: Like always ... Jose: And she stopped everything. She was like, “Oh the divas, the vogue divas are here? Okay.” And I remember going to the back, and she was like, “No, you two to the front.” We were so amazed by her, as she was by us. It was amazing.

She’s like Columbus discovering America. Carmen: She gets it. Exactly.

So Madonna discovered voguing and made it popular. And it spiked, and now you’re this international thing. You had your moment, and you were the stars -- you were the Xtravaganzas, as you always should be. Jose: Yeah. Carmen: Sure enough, it was the 72nd anniversary of Vogue magazine around that time. Someone gave me those beautiful earrings Madonna had.

But now, Madonna goes on and does other things, a million other things. Now she’s saving children! Carmen: And having children.

But the Xtravaganzas are now legitimized, world famous. All the other Houses look at you a little differently because you were the ones knighted by Madonna. Now, we’re sitting with two relative newbies who were not around back in the days. Jose: Right, the new blood.

They weren't there back in the days when you were homeless, and you were living in the streets and whatever. Gay people are more accepted now. Jose: Right. It was hard. It was a very tough life.

For them, to be gay, it is not as strange, not as unacceptable in our society. Jose: It’s definitely easier for them. Yes, it’s definitely easier for a lot of them.

And of course, they appreciate it. Because they’re Xtravaganza. Carmen: And they have their parents who accept them. Their parents are my age. Jose: Now, society realizes that AIDS is not a gay thing. That’s it’s everybody’s thing. Carmen: It’s a world thing.

So Madonna takes voguing and says, “Not only is this acceptable, but it’s absolutely beautiful, and it should be celebrated, as you’ve been celebrating it for decades.” But now the world is celebrating with you. And it’s different to be an Xtravaganza now -- these two, they’re not on the Piers, selling their butts. At least I don't think they are. Davari: Yeah, we are! Just not on the Piers!

Life is easier. So when you recruit a newbie, they haven’t gone through the gauntlet that you’ve gone through. Carmen: It’s a blessing ... thank God! Jose: You know, because we opened doors. We opened a lot of doors for them to come through.

So how does a newbie impress you? How does this man become an Xtravaganza? Because in the past, you guys proved yourself in the street, because you backed each other, you stood up for each other. How does a new person become an Xtravaganza? Jose: Well he brings back very good memories -- of the people who originated ... Carmen: We were just talking about that! A lot of them are like a reincarnation of us -- Davari and Jose. They’re the same people. Jose: He reminds me of Danny. So the first time I saw him, I was like “Oh my God, it’s Danny.” So right off the bat I’m already captivated by him and his energy. And the more I look at him, the more he brings Danny to mind. Carmen: And Davari, the same. Jose: It brings me back to a very good place in life.

And the respect comes naturally to you tow. You understand that you are standing on the shoulders of people who fought and clawed. Carmen: You better understand!

Do you understand? G Xtravaganza: I’m a fashion design kid. I went to school, and I lived in L.A. for a couple years, and I just kind of went out clubbing. I moved to New York City because that’s what my passion was. I’m doing my thing, I’m a club kid, I’m going high fashion, dressing up for these clubs. I hadn’t heard anything about Xtravaganza. I’m just doing me. Jose: Expressing yourself. G: Right! And then through friends, I started meeting the Xtravaganzas and everything, and I just naturally bonded to them. It was like reflections of me or other people that were just like me. It felt like, “Oh my God! We do the same thing.” Jose: That’s the most important thing when we try to bring somebody into our organization. It’s like, “I’ve known you for years.”

Have the Xtravaganzas become your family? G: Definitely. Hundred percent. I mean, I really wasn’t accepted right off the bat ... I had a little bit of a bump. It just made me want to do my own thing. And I just bonded to the Xtravaganzas.

The world accepts gay people now. Not as much as we’d like, but much, much better. Jose: It came a long way.

We got TV shows with gay people. I watched Mad Men the other night, and I watched two men kissing. Carmen: It’s a fabulous show.

Davari, do you need the support of a House? Do you want the support of a House? Davari: When I first came into the ballroom scene and everything, one of the first Houses that I heard about was Xtravaganza, and once I learned about the history of the people in the House, it intrigued me so much. I first started out in the House of Legacy, but of course I was spotted by a few other Xtravaganzas that were interested in me ... Hector Xtravaganza himself ... Carmen: Grandfather ... he’s so cute. Davari: And he inspired me to join this House. And afterward, I found out about all the history and what this House had done ...

But that’s why you are in this House. Why are you in a House at all? Why aren’t you just a man walking down the street? Carmen: Yeah, why? Davari: It’s like a family. They’re here for guidance. They’re here anytime that you need them. It’s like a second set of parents and brothers and sisters.

When I was running the Red Zone, Michael Alig and I, we decided -- because we’re up on 54th Street -- we needed the Hispanic crowd because they would come to that area. We tapped in to this crowd, which was a well dressed crowd that no one downtown was bringing into the mix. We were the first club I believe that embraced this scene. Can I say that? Carmen: Yeah.

Carmen was my dear friend back then. I mean, I worshiped you. Every time I saw you, I was in awe of you. At that time I didn’t know a transsexual. You were the first transgender person I became friends with. We used to say about people back then, “She’s so beautiful, she must be a transsexual.” Carmen: “She’s so beautiful, she can’t be real.”

In the House, there are men who are butch queens, while you are a fem queen. How was your transition then different than it is for the new kids? Carmen: My name is Mother Xtravaganza ...

We have the Mother of the House, and the Father of the House, and the Grandfather of the House. Carmen: Yes, I am the Mother of the House since 1993. As for my gender and how I became the person I am today ... As we speak right now, we have two kids. One is 17 and one is 16, Jasmine and Jocelyn. And Angie Xtravaganza. There are three. And they are in the transition right now, to becoming transgendered women. You know, slowly, by taking pills, taking hormones. I help with that. Because I see them as they are, as I was at their age, and how I struggled to become the person that I am. So they have it easy having a mother, a House Mother, along with my kids. My kids chip in and help them, guide them through.

I can see you coming to tears right now. Carmen: Almost , Because I think of that time, and how I struggled so much to make it where I am today, and they have it so easy. It’s comforting for me to see them in the position that they are now, that they don’t have to struggle with all the negativity. Jose: And we do remind them of how easy they have it. Carmen: Oh, we do. How we used to get mistreated ... I was born in Europe, I was raised in Europe, and it’s different in Europe from the United States. I was in Europe for seven years. Jose: They were throwing you guys in jail before Stonewall. Carmen: I just went to Europe for seven years. I worked for designers, top designers. And I worked for the best clubs and celebrities. I was everywhere -- Madrid, Barcelona, Italy, France, London. They know about my gender. They know who I am, what I’m made of. And, they know about the House of Xtravaganza. Because I put the seed there, just using the name, and Paris Is Burning. And it’s so amazing, the culture there, which is the old country, the old continent. We’re supposed to be so ahead in some things here, but we’re backwards. Even Marc Jacobs himself, told me back in the 80s, “Carmen it’s so sad ... I could use you, but I can’t, it would be a scandal.” Because of my gender.

Terry Toye did it, with Yves St. Laurent. Carmen: And this was when he was working for Perry Ellis, and he told me this -- Marc Jacobs! But in Spain? The person that I am doesn’t matter ... whatever you have between your legs, as long as you look the part, and you carry the part. And people respect you, and you respect people. And I carry myself like a lady. So that’s the most important. I love being the Mother of my House. I didn’t need company to go to a ball ... I went, and I did it, and I slammed it. Hector: But it’s good when you can do it with your family. Carmen: It is…But I didn’t always ask to go. But I’m saying, there was times when I would go by myself. Hector: Yeah, you did it by yourself.

Well, I’ve seen you become a woman. I've seen you grow up .I remember you at the Red Zone ... you were a party. Now, you have responsibility. Carmen: I grew. Hector: Yeah, you grew. We all grow. It’s a stage.

What's the future of the House, Hector? Hector: We’re having a ball November 14, I’m in the process of a reality show ... books .... and we’re also going to give a ball in L.A. for 2010, which is great because 10 in Roman numerals is an “X.” So, X for Xtravaganza.